In March of 2020 very little was known on what could help stop the spread of the coronavirus, but the one thing that did work was handwashing. While there was a pandemic taking root, there was also an infodemic on proper handwashing techniques. Governments were struggling to help remote regions, but Colgate-Palmolive was uniquely positioned to activate globally to provide education and the life-saving soaps people desperately needed.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the global supply chain was stifled. People around the world were unable to get basic supplies like hand soap. While many companies wanted to do something, Colgate-Palmolive was uniquely positioned to activate globally to slow disease transmission. By activating five factories on three continents to create life-saving soaps, we were able to make the supplies that were so desperately needed. At the same time, we formed a partnership with the World Health Organization which allowed us to easily distribute the soaps to people in remote regions that needed it the most. Furthermore, these bars of soap came with special handwashing instructions so that people could properly protect themselves from illness.

We aimed to create a bar of soap designed to save lives; one that would not only help people get rid of germs on their hands, but also teach them proper handwashing techniques to slow the transmission of diseases.

Through strategic partnerships with The World Health Organization, Unicef, and shipping partner DHL, our life-saving soaps reached approximately 100 million people in remote regions across 28 countries. This initiative was intended to provide not only short-term, immediate support by giving soap to those in need during the pandemic, but also long-term hygiene education. In tandem, an awareness campaign ran in 88 countries on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and the World Health Organization’s website. Through this campaign 1.5 billion people around the world were taught proper handwashing techniques that can keep them safe during the pandemic, and will last a lifetime.

In just 35 days, we activated five factories on three continents to create 26.5 million bars of soap designed to save lives. Each bar of soap was embossed with messages to remind people to wash their hands for 40 seconds. And, each soap came wrapped with step-by-step instructions from The World Health Organization on proper handwashing technique.

With the help of the World Health Organization our soap helped 100 million people in remote areas in 28 countries. In tandem, we created an awareness campaign to support the World Health Organization's #SafeHandsChallenge that ran in 88 countries on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and the World Health Organization’s website.

Our specially packaged soaps helped fight the pandemic, but also the infodemic on proper handwashing. Approximately 100 million people in remote regions in 28 countries received the life-saving supplies they needed. And, our social campaign was translated into over 30 languages and helped educate over 1.5 billion people on proper handwashing techniques. This resulted in Colgate-Palmolive being invited to the United Nations forum on handwashing and hygiene, and has made them a core partner with Unicef on their global handwashing initiative.